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Post by Yves Chevalier on Jun 23, 2010 21:59:11 GMT -5
I had arrived bright and early two days hence, just as I promised. However, I was unable to get the docile bay mare I had been hoping for, as Madame Moreau had plans for her for the day. Instead I brought my own horse, a sturdy male that I called Carlo - for no other reason than that I liked the name.
I rode to Aurianne's home and rapped on the door, hoping that she would not be averse to riding with me on Carlo, rather than having a horse of her own. She had seemed a bit nervous at the idea, so I had a feeling that she wouldn't mind. I was nervous myself, after sending her that camellia flower ... would she think that I was too forward?
When I knocked on the door, I felt an unfamiliar shakiness in my belly, nerves that I did not normally feel around women. That's because you don't think of them as women, in that sense of the word, I told myself, but Aurianne was a very different matter. I found that I was fidgeting as I waited for her to come to the door.
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Post by Aurianne nó Hughes on Jun 23, 2010 23:31:18 GMT -5
I'd risen early, bathing and making sure my hair had sufficient time to dry. For the first time in a long time I had a reason to get moving, something driving me besides my own self discipline, and I took to it with pleasure. By the time I heard a knock upon the door, I was dressed in a gown that closely matched the green that had come upon the box that he'd had sent over, my hair down and tamed. My heart leapt, and I opened the door myself, a smile upon my mouth as I looked upon him.
"Yves," I greeted happily, opening the door more should he want to enter. He looked.. beautiful, honestly, if nervous, though I couldn't possibly imagine why. "I was afraid you'd forgotten, it's so late."
My smile bloomed to a grin as I teased him - it was still very early, much earlier than I'd expected him to show. Thoughts of the Camellia flower he'd sent danced in my head, and I couldn't help but wonder about him, if he was this sweet with all his friends, or if I was lucky... incredibly lucky.
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Post by Yves Chevalier on Jun 24, 2010 23:16:14 GMT -5
When she opened the door, I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face, like the sun breaking through clouds. "Forgotten?" I said, laughing, "Never, my lady." I offered her my hand and began leading her down the walk. "However, I was only able to get one horse. I hope you don't mind your first ride being on the same horse with me." I smiled down at her somewhat sheepishly.
As we approached him, he whuffed and I rubbed his nose softly. "This is Carlo," I said, taking her hand and placing it on his nose. "He's good-natured, I promise," I added, hoping that she liked him, and thinking how silly it was that I wanted her to like my horse.
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Post by Aurianne nó Hughes on Jun 26, 2010 23:31:54 GMT -5
Shutting the door firmly behind me, I had to temper the smile that wanted to come out as he took my hand and began to lead me down the steps. So caught up in the feel of it, I didn't notice there was only one horse, and my next thought was to wonder if he was going to walk rather than ride. When he mentioned both of us riding, my heart stuttered, but I nodded, my smile suddenly very hard to contain again.
"I don't mind," I assured him, hopefully not too quickly, but my wits were addled. Coloring slightly, I ran my fingers of my free hand over my hips, habitually straightening my dress, making sure it lay flat over my stomach. "Mayhap you can keep me from falling off," I teased lightly before he introduced me to his horse, placing my hand upon his muzzle.
"Hello Carlos," I said softly, tentatitively, and as if on cue, he nudged my hand, and I gasped, pulling my hand away by reflex before blushing and putting it back again. He was velvety there, between his nostrils, slender whiskers sticking out and the skin wrinkled slightly, but very soft. "He's beautiful," I admired, knowing already I liked him for his calm demeanor alone.
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Post by Yves Chevalier on Jun 27, 2010 13:26:23 GMT -5
"He likes you," I said, though of course who knew what was going on in Carlo's horsey head? I handed her a piece of apple and smiled. "If you feed him, he'll love you forever." I watched as she tentatively fed him the apple, nervous but brave, and I found that I admired her for that.
Carlo ate the apple in one bite, whickering softly and nudging Aurianne's hand for more. "You have to be careful with him, he'll eat until he bursts if you let him." I looked her over and noticed at once that she wasn't wearing divided skirts for riding. I realized suddenly that she probably didn't have any, not being a rider at all. Well, she could ride in skirts, but I hoped she didn't mind showing some leg!
I gestured to the stirrups and put one booted foot in one of them. "This is how you mount," I told her, and the proceeded to swing up into the saddle in one fluid motion. I dismounted and did it again, while Carlo patiently stood still, no doubt wondering what we were about. "Now you try," I told her, scooting back in the saddle so there was room for her and holding my hand out to her.
I could tell she was worried, but she did as I asked, taking my hand and copying my motions, though with a little less grace and her skirts all in her way. I held onto her though, then helped her adjust herself. "I should have mentioned divided skirts to you," I said sheepishly, as her skirt was now up past her knees. I tried not to dwell on the curve of her legs or to - Elua forbid! - run my hands over the soft skin. It was hard enough to have her in front of me, to smell her and have my hands on her hips ... suddenly I had to school my thoughts or embarrass myself.
"Now, you direct a horse with the reins, and with pressure from your knees, like this..." I demonstrated, and we began to walk slowly down the avenue. I could feel some tension, Carlo wanted to run, but I had no doubt that it was too soon for that! "How are you doing?" I asked her, hoping that she was having fun, or at least, not petrified.
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Post by Aurianne nó Hughes on Jun 27, 2010 19:47:39 GMT -5
From the apple to the mounting to showing me how to use my knees and hands, Yves was patient and attentive, and I had to wonder as I tried not to cling to Carlos back if he perhaps had a child of his own. It wouldn't be the first time for a man to raise a babe on his own, and though it was a sad thought, I couldn't bring myself to hope I was wrong. He would make an amazing father, so bright and cheery, so affectionate. I felt a bloom of endearment for him saturate my heart, and between focusing on not falling off, I was sure that at least some of it showed through my smile. Ever so carefully I stuck my foot in the saddle, and, well aware of my skirts lifting sharply, I hoisted myself into the saddle, a light jump making it much easier. I did it without thinking, and after I sat before Yves, I nearly blinked in surprise.
"Alright," I said, trying to stay on subject as I listened to him. My skirts were pushed up past my knees, and I tried vainly not to focus on the fact, nor how I could feel his body heat sifting off of himself and into me. The remembered feel of his hands on my hips still clung, and I found it all the more difficult to focus, even astride a horse as I was, though admittedly the feel of his chest against my back and his hips and legs to mine didn't make it any easier. Gods, not at all.. My heart fluttered.
When the horse began walking with Yves, I had to swallow a gasp. His question brought a quick smile from me, and I forced my limbs all to be supple, with just a little pressure to keep from being a complete noodle. "Wonderful." I found myself wanting to touch his skin, even if just a little, but I forced myself to stay as I was, not wanting to look like a dolt for randomly reaching out and caressing his cheek. Besides, I had no idea how he'd even take it, not really.
Together we rode down the lane, receiving only a few sidelong looks as we moved. I felt.. free, or more than I had in a long time. The horses amble was easy to get used to after a little bit, though I wasn't sure about going any faster than a walk. Not yet, anyway. "Are you sure he doesn't mind us both riding him?" I asked, not entirely sure we wouldn't hurt him by doing it even if I'd seen many others do the same.
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Post by Yves Chevalier on Jun 27, 2010 20:36:52 GMT -5
I could sense that she was nervous, but she bravely said that she was "wonderful" and I had to smile. I kept Carlo at a walk as we wound our way toward Elua's Square, and the park there. It was nice to see that others were out on a day like this, some cantering along the trails or walking together, arm in arm. A day for lovers, I thought, and then felt embarrassed just for thinking such a thing. We were D'angelines, yes, but that did not mean that one had to be ruled by such thoughts as were running through my mind all morning.
"So," I said, "What does a former Camellia Adept do for fun?" I really did wonder, though I wondered about everything to do with her: what her favorite food was, or her favorite color, what her parents names were and if they had adored her or ignored her or somewhere in between. I didn't think I'd ever wondered about so many little things that made up a person's life as I did about her.
Most of all, I wondered about this Damien of hers, and what their relationship was. "Wondered" was not even accurate - no, I burned with curiosity, a need to know that was fierce and sharp, though I kept that to myself for now, knowing that it was ridiculous of me even to ask her those sorts of questions. Still, I wondered...
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Post by Aurianne nó Hughes on Jun 29, 2010 9:39:53 GMT -5
I was safe, secure with him, knowing that if anything happened, he wouldn't let harm come to me. No - I was sure, truly, even for the little amount of time we'd known each other. It was too easy to fantasize about his arm wrapping around my waist to save me from falling, too easy to think of how it could feel to have his lips kissing my neck as we rode, pressing against my flesh, my head tilting backwards, face up towards the sky...
I shivered, and for the first time not from the cold. Had we not been on his horse, I'd have shifted, but for the second time I became painfully aware of his legs wrapping about me and his groin pressed against my rear. Thankfully he spoke then, and I grappled to his conversation to keep myself from dwelling on anything else, things I had no right to fantasize about.
"I read," I said, turning my face so I could glance up at him with a smile flushing across my mouth. "Draw, write poetry. I've tried sewing, but I've found I'm not very good at it." Carlo plodded along, and I glanced forward again before looking back up at Yves again. His face was close to mine, too easy to imagine his mouth turning down to press to m... No! I had no right. No right.
"I've tried cooking as well, but..." I grinned; suddenly my failures seemed amusing, sitting here with Yves. I could laugh at them rather than be embarrassed, because I didn't think he'd think me a dolt or failure. I could see us both laughing over my attempt at creations, honestly, eating something small and plain instead of the more elaborate meal I'd tried making.. and subsequently killed. "I think I have a better chance at sewing a masterpiece."
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Post by Yves Chevalier on Jun 29, 2010 18:27:53 GMT -5
She shivered, and I automatically drew her in closer, letting my voluminous cloak fall about the two of us. I felt my face warm a little at the presumption, but I did not draw back.
"Reading and drawing and poetry?" I asked with a smile, "All very artistic pursuits, and yet you were not an Eglantine." When she added that she was not good at sewing, I laughed, adding, "Well no one can be good at everything I suppose."
Carlo whuffed in the cold air, and I reached around her to pat his neck encouragingly. He was getting along in years and the cold weather seemed to bother him more lately. It worried me, but what could one do about the passage of time?
I laughed again, something I seemed to do more often with her than anyone I'd ever met, and smiled, trying not to inhale too deeply the fragrance of her hair. "Well, I can help you with that - not only am I an excellent rider, but I'm a good cook as well. My mother always wanted to make certain that I could feed myself, at least." My heart constricted at the memory of her, baking with me and showing me how to knead the dough for bread just so, wisps of hair escaping the braid she liked to wear. Most people of our standing had servants for cooking, but not my mother, no she liked us to eat food she'd prepared with her own two hands.
"Mayhap for our next excursion, we can have make a meal together." It was probably presumptuous of me to assume there would be a next time, but I just knew that there would, because despite the warning bells going off inside, I couldn't seem to stay away.
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Post by Aurianne nó Hughes on Jul 18, 2010 23:11:29 GMT -5
I was only just thinking of how beautiful the day was; I'd barely ventured out, but with Yves company I felt... Light. Happy. My cheeks were stained with rose only partially from the cold air, though when he pulled his cloak around me and drew me closer, I shivered again at the rush of heat. It was all I could do not to think of his chest pressed against my back, or his thighs against the sides of my buttocks, my own thighs. My fingers held the saddle before me as I allowed myself to lean lightly against him, afraid of pushing things too far, that he'd pull away or.. Or..
Or what, I didn't know.
His laughter though saved me from any other thoughts I might have had, and I found myself smiling along with it, trying to picture what he was painting with words; a floury Yves, padding around a kitchen, rolling dough... all things I'd never done before. Never had to in truth, and had never really given thought to. But with Yves, suddenly I was curious, curious to watch him, to have him teach me. My fingers tightened on the saddle, and I leaned a little more against him, drinking in his heat, his scent, his beauty.
"Mayhap you could teach me how to make something small," I offered cautiously, unsure how he'd take that, if he'd like it or not. It wasn't til just then that I realized how much I wanted there to be a next time; I enjoyed spending time with him immensely, and didn't want it to end. "I think I'd like to see you in a kitchen," I added, tilting my head back so I could glance up at him with a grin.
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Post by Yves Chevalier on Jul 18, 2010 23:23:58 GMT -5
I chuckled, wondering what the cook at the bath house would think if I brought her there to make a meal. I wasn't sure if her situation allowed for us to do it at the place where she resided. "We can make a tart," I offered, trying to keep my thoughts from racing as she leaned against me. She was so soft, so beautiful, so unlike my perception of adepts. I had always harbored a prejudice against them, especially after Elodie came to us, cast out of Jasmine House, rather than helped through her troubles.
Aurianne disabused me of my notions, she was not haughty or cold, but rather the opposite, warm and friendly. I felt like a new man with her, weightless and bold, in short, my old self. "What kind of fruit do you like?" I asked her, then reflected that it was winter and added, "Though your choices are rather limited." I grinned down at her, glad that Carlo practically read my mind and that I did not have to pay too much attention to guiding him.
"And you must promise not to start a food fight, the cook hates that."
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Post by Aurianne nó Hughes on Jul 19, 2010 16:15:30 GMT -5
I laughed a little as he asked me which fruit I'd prefer, then seemed to remember what month it was. "Wintered apples would work well," I said, my grin easy and natural as I sat before him, warm and secure with his chest pressed against my back, his arms essentially around my waist as he held onto the reins.
I wanted to kiss him, Naamah help me, I did. I didn't know whether it was in her service or not; I couldn't differenciate anything right now, just the need and hope that I'd be able to be closer to him. It shamed me, remembering Damien, but I had to remind myself that I knew I wasn't Damiens only love, and why we were good together, we weren't great. I loved Damien, he loved me... but we lived with each other more than for each other, as much as it pained me to know it. Yves though, he sent my heart fluttering like a thousand butterflies even though this was but the second time I'd met him, and his gift was well remembered, how expensive it was, and how rough the cut of his clothes were. I didn't know what kind of funds he made, but I had a suspicion it must have cost him dearly. My fingers tightened on the saddle again, but this time it was to keep from touching his face, from being inappropriate in that way.
"I promise not to sling food at you," I laughed, trying to keep my thoughts from all things heavy. "At least, I promise not to start it." The idea of flinging food at him didn't exactly appeal to me, not with my training of Camellia driven so hard into me... but I had to remind myself that I wasn't of Camellia any longer. I was myself, through and through.
"I received your gift, by the by," I said at length, glancing up at him with a warm smile on my lips, my eyes taking in his beautiful ones. "That was... Elua, beyond sweet, thank you so very much Yves."
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Post by Yves Chevalier on Jul 19, 2010 23:39:37 GMT -5
I blushed at her mention of my gift, pleased that she had enjoyed it. "I had to get it, it was so you," I said, smiling back down at her and guiding Carlo onto a smaller path that led to a less populated area of the square. There was a little nook here that looked so beautiful in the snow, I wanted to show it to her. "I had to stop myself from buying you that music box as a jest," I admitted, laughing softly. "I have a strange sense of humor sometimes."
We reached the part of the path that thinned out, and I stopped Carlo and looked down at her. "I hope you don't mind walking part of the way, but the path narrows too much for horses here. It's a lovely spot of the square that not everyone seems to know about, though, I'm sure you'll like it." That and the fact that I had left a small picnic lunch there with a man from the bathhouse to guard over it and chase away anyone else who might want to make use of that spot. Maybe it wasn't the best weather for a picnic, but I liked to think my ingenuity made up for that.
I slid off of Carlo's back and then reached for her, my hands at her waist, and lifted her down from the horse. She hardly weighed a thing, and yet did not look too thin. I smiled at her and tied Carlo's reins to a tree, my man would take care of him while we were gone.
I offered her my hand, hoping she would trust me enough to follow me.
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Post by Aurianne nó Hughes on Jul 20, 2010 10:55:44 GMT -5
His cheeks colored a little, and I was doubly thankful that I was looking at him at that moment, that I could see it. Elua, he was endearing, and I felt another stab of guilt at realizing it. What would Damien say if he knew the little lightning bolts that traced across my chest when I looked up at Yves? We worked well together, Damien and I, splendid housemates, bedmates, friends... I almost sighed before pushing it firmly from my mind again. I wanted to enjoy Yves, not think of anything else.
"I don't mind walking," I assured him with a soft smile before he helped me down from the back of his mount. His hands felt so.. strong, like he knew exactly what to do with them, not awkward in the slightest, and I felt a sense of security wash over me. Slipping my hand into his offered one, I paused just quick enough to give Carlo an affectionate pat for not killing me on the ride over, then followed him through the thicket of overgrown shrubbery, my fingers tangling in his slightly, lacing through his own. My calves were chilled still from the ride over, but my black leather boots were high enough now that the snow didn't fall into them, and I remained quietly behind Yves as he led. "I've never been back here before," I said; it'd be unseemly for me to just go off exploring as a resident of Camellia.
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Post by Yves Chevalier on Jul 20, 2010 14:34:02 GMT -5
I was pleased that she trusted me enough to follow, and when we found the spot where two trees conjoined to give shade, a must have in the summer, I spotted my man there.
“Thank you for saving our place,” I told him, smiling and dismissing him to look after Carlo. “What do you think? Right in the middle of a public square, and yet hardly anyone knows about it.”
I gestured to the basket of food I’d procured from the cook: cold chicken, a salad of greens, bread and cheese, and a spiced cider cake – his specialty and for which I know owed him several favors. “I hope you don’t mind, but I thought we could have lunch.” I had also brought a light wine, inexpensive but still good, and I hoped that she would like it.
There were two crates covered by a thick blanket, so we did not have to sit on the wet grass, and I gestured toward them, smiling and bowing slightly. “Your seat, my lady.”
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Post by Aurianne nó Hughes on Jul 20, 2010 18:55:12 GMT -5
What was waiting for us was the last thing I expected, and to my utter and complete embarrassment, I very nearly teared up at it. Yves was the epitome of a gentleman - sweet, caring, thoughtful, generous, and willing to put someone else before himself. My fingers tightened a little on his hand, and when I stopped moving it was where I could stand close to him, my side just barely brushing into his as a man he'd contracted into helping him walked off.
"You didn't have to do this," I said softly, looking up at him with a tender smile after he'd risen from bowing. I hesitated, but reached, brushing my fingers across his cheek in a fond gesture before withdrawing my hand and moving to sit on the crate he'd procured for me, smoothing my dress carefully under me by habit alone.
"I can't say I've ever picnicked in the winter months before," I said lightly, though my mouth still held the tender smile as I looked up at him. Elua save me, he was beautiful. My heart beat wildly in my chest.
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Post by Yves Chevalier on Jul 21, 2010 22:56:19 GMT -5
"I know I didn't have to," I said, smiling at her and trying not to shiver when she touched me. There was something there, something I hadn't felt in a long time ... too long, but at the same time, too soon; I wasn't sure if I was ready for it. "I thought it would be fun, and besides, I get hungry easily," I said, laughing and settling next to her.
"I haven't either, but I thought I could make it work ... I had to try, anyway." I reached for the basket and opened it, handing her a plate and a cloth napkin. The food was packaged in neat little parchment wraps, which I began to open and lay out between us. "Help yourself, or shall I serve you, my lady?" I wanted to tell myself to stop falling, but it was too hard to resist her, and when I lay down at night with that aching hole in my chest, I could think of her and not hurt for just a little while ... it was dangerous yet seductive.
I realized I was staring and felt myself flush, turning my attention back to the food. "I have to say, this chicken is really good, but you'll love the cider cake."
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Post by Aurianne nó Hughes on Aug 16, 2010 15:55:59 GMT -5
I watched as he moved for the basket and opened it, seated next to me like it was the most natural thing in the world. Part of me couldn't help but wonder what favor he'd called in on (or now owed) the man who had guarded the spot and items before we'd arrived here, and it only served to endear me to Yves more. It scared me some, especially when my thoughts drifted to Damien.
"I can serve myself," I said, hoping I was just smiling prettily at him and not grinning like a fool woman. There was something about him that made me want to smile all the time; dangerous thoughts, frightening especially given the length of time we'd known each other, but still the same, it was as it was. I shivered a little, and tugged my cloak tighter around me as I reached to pick up a few pieces of chicken, a slice of cheese, and the smallest piece of crusty bread I could manage to find. Old habits died hard I'd heard, and Camellia had been ground into my bones for almost a decade now.
"Cider cake?" I asked as I lifted my eyes to him again, flashing a smile that I was almost sure was flirty and teasing. Almost. "That does sound good.. I propose we eat dessert first." Playful, light, I felt my smile grow a little more as I selected a small piece of the cake and sat up, holding it as I looked at Yves. I was happy, there was no denying it.
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Post by Yves Chevalier on Aug 17, 2010 23:02:17 GMT -5
I loved the way she smiled, it seemed to light up the small glade as well any sunlight could have done. I also liked that she served herself, that she didn't wait around for a man to do it for her. I don't know why I had that image of an adept as a 'helpless woman' in my head. In fact, I was discovering that I had more preconceived notions than I had a right to - and that Aurianne was proving them all wrong.
"Dessert first? Now you sound like Julia," I laughed, then flushed a bit myself, covering it while I got the two wrapped pieces of cake out. I hadn't planned to mention the girls just yet, not for any reason in particular, or to hide it, but simply because it was a part of my life that I held the most dear, the most private. Still, if I was going to spend more time with Aurianne - and if I was honest, I hoped that I would be - I might as well be open from the beginning.
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Post by Aurianne nó Hughes on Oct 11, 2010 13:11:37 GMT -5
Julia? My smile didn't slip as I looked at him, but for a moment I felt a quick pang of jealousy; was she his .. No, not a current flame. Yves was too up-standing for that, but mayhap a past? Ah gods.. I needed to quit, or it would drive to insanity forever. "Julia?" I asked curiously, smiling at him as he handed me my portion of dessert. It did look rather good, and I waited for him to be settled with his food before I began eating my own, a tiny portion on my fork, as if testing it. A bad habit of mine, I supposed, but years of watching ones weight, watching ones habits of every day life to make them aesthetically pleasing made it hard to be anything else. Nibbling on the cake, I looked at him, the way the sunlight glanced across his hair, a smile continuously curving the corners of my mouth.
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Post by Yves Chevalier on Oct 11, 2010 19:15:01 GMT -5
"My daughter," I said, busying myself with my own food for a moment before looking back at her. "I have two daughters, actually, Julia and Claire." I hoped that she would be someone who liked children, for I knew that I would be sad if this was our last time together. Still, nothing was more important to me than my girls, and if Aurianne was not the type to enjoy children, well, the sooner I knew, the better off I would be.
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Post by Aurianne nó Hughes on Oct 11, 2010 20:39:19 GMT -5
His daughter?
I blinked in surprise; of anything I'd thought, him having children hadn't been one of them. A smile grew on my mouth as quick as the blink died, and I tilted my head slightly at him. "I didn't know you were a father..." Ah, gods, what an idiotic thing to say. Of course I didn't know. Blushing, I hurried on. "Those are beautiful names. How old are they, if you don't mind my asking?" Taking another little sliver of cake, I nibbled at it, my eyes curiously on his.
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